Apparatus for sensing slubs carried by yarn

ABSTRACT

Anvils are mounted adjacent individual strands of yarn intermediate separate supply bobbins and twisting apparatus. A member carrying a cutter blade at one end is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends adjacent one side of each anvil with the blade being movable selectively to a first position adjacent the anvil and to a second position spaced from the anvil for passing a strand of yarn therebetween. Each blade is positioned relative to its anvil to be engaged by a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand and moved thereby to said first position to sever the adjacent strand. Each blade is urged toward and remains in said second position until it is engaged by a slub.

United States Patent Desaulniers et a1.

[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 APPARATUS FOR SENSING SLUBS CARRIED BY YARN [76] Inventors: Anthony T. Desaulniers, Rt. 1 300 May Ave., Talladega, Ala. 35160; James A. Byars, 2917 Madden Dr., Columbus, Ga. 31906 [22] Filed: Feb. 4, I972 [21] App]. No.: 223,509

[52] US. Cl 28/64, 57/80, 57/82, 242/36 [51] Int. Cl. D01h 13/22, D02j 7/00 [58] Field of Search 28/64; 57/80, 82; 242/36 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,846 7/1889 Marsden 28/64 1,075,136 10/1913 Ames et al 57/80 1,565,853 12/1925 Hasbrouck 28/64 1,695,236 12/1928 Gravel 28/64 1,716,452 6/1929 Maino et a1 28/64 1,929,763 10/1933 Wray 57/80 Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Att0rney-Hugh P. Carter [57] ABSTRACT Anvils are mounted adjacent individual strands of yarn intermediate separate supply bobbins and twisting apparatus. A member carrying a cutter blade at one end is pivotally mounted intennediate its ends adjacent one side of each anvil with the blade being movable selectively to a first position adjacent the anvil and to a second position spaced from the anvil for passing a strand of yarn therebetween. Each blade is positioned relative to its anvil to be engaged by a slub carried by an adja cent moving strand and moved thereby to said first position to sever the adjacent strand. Each blade is urged toward and remains in said second position until it is engaged by a slub.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR SENSING SLUBS CARRIED BY YARN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for sensing slubs carried by textile yarn and more particularly to apparatus for sensing the slubs whereby they may be removed prior to the twisting operation. That is, slubs carried by individual moving strands of yarn are sensed and removed as the strands pass from individual supply bobbins to twisting apparatus for forming multiple ply yarn from the individual strands.

Heretofore in the art to which our invention relates, apparatus for catching and removing slubs has not only been complicated in structure and difficult to maintain but the slub catchers have been positioned whereby they sense the slub after the individual strands have been twisted into multiple ply yarn.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with our invention, we provide apparatus for sensing slubs carried by individual moving strands of yarn prior to passing the yarn through twisting apparatus. Anvils are mounted adjacent individual strands of yarn intermediate the supply bobbins and the twisting apparatus. A cutter blade is mounted for pivotal movement at one side of the anvil with the blade being movable selectively to a first position adjacent the anvil and to a second position spaced from the anvil for passing a strand of yarn therebetween. Each blade is positioned to engage a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand whereby the blade is moved to said first position to sever the adjacent strand. Each blade is urged toward and remains in the second position until it is engaged by a moving slub.

Our improved apparatus for sensing slubs eliminates the necessity of a winding process after spinning for the purpose of catching slubs in the yarn, thus bringing about a material savings in the cost of production. Also, by positioning our improved slub catcher at the twister, or folder, or two for one winding and twisting process, the efficiency of the final winding process is greatly improved to further reduce the cost of production. Also, by removing the slubs from the individual strands of yarn prior to twisting the strands into multiple ply yarn, there are practically no slubs or knots in the finished yarn. Our improved apparatus is particularly adapted for use in sensing and removing slubs from carpet yarns due to the fact that the efficiency of the tufting machines is greatly improved. Furthermore, in view of the fact that our improved apparatus is mechanical in operation and requires a minimum of parts, maintenance costs is reduced to a minimum.

Apparatus embodying features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing our improved apparatus mounted on the creel of a conventional type twister frame;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, our improved apparatus comprises a relatively flat, upstanding body member which is secured to a support bracket 11 by suitable retaining bolts 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the support bracket 11 is secured to the creel of a conventional type twister frame indicated generally at 13. Individual strands 14 of yarn are delivered to separate yarn guides 16 whereupon the separate strands 14 then pass downwardly through separate yarn guides 17 which are secured to the body 10 by suitable retaining elements 18.

Mounted on the body member 10 beneath each yarn guide member 17 is an upstanding anvil member 19. Each anvil member 19 has a laterally extending portion 21 which extends parallel to and alongside the adjacent side of the body member 10, as shown, whereby each anvil member 19 is provided with a relatively flat surface 22 which extends perpendicular to the body member 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the upstanding flat surface 22 is in alignment with the yarn guides 17 whereby each strand 14 of yarn passes alongside and parallel to the adjacent surface 22. The upper and lower ends of the anvil members 19 are rounded as at 23 and 24, respectively, to facilitate movement of the individual strands 14 relative to the anvil members.

Pivotally connected to the body member 10 by a pivot pin 26 in spaced relation to the upstanding flat surface 22 of each anvil 19 is a knife member 27 having a cutter blade 28 at the side thereof nearest the flat surface 22, as shown in FIG. 2. The pivot pin 26 is located intermediate the ends of the knife member 27 and the end of the knife member opposite the cutter blade 28 is provided with a counter weight 29 whereby the cutter blade 28 is urged upwardly and away from the adjacent flat surface 22 of the anvil 19. Upward movement of each knife member 27 is limited by a stop member 31 which is preferably in the form of a cam member whereby upon rotation of the cam member the knife member 27 is stopped at selected angular positions. Upon engagement of either of the cutter blades 28 with a slub 32, the moving strand 14 carrying the slub 32 moves the cutter blade 28 downwardly toward the adjacent flat surface 22 whereupon the strand 14 is cut adjacent the slub 32, as shown in FIG. 2. Upon severing the strand 14 adjacent the slub 32, the slub 32 is removed in the usual manner and the adjacent ends of the strand 14 are tied together in the usual manner whereupon the apparatus is then placed back in operation again.

As the individual strands 14 of yarn leave the lower ends of the anvil 19, the strands pass through separate yarn guides 33 which are secured to the body member 10 by suitable securing elements 34. From the yarn guides 33, the individual strands 14 pass downwardly and are delivered to conventional type twisting apparatus whereupon the separate strands 14 are then twisted into a multiple ply yarn in a manner well understood in the art to which our invention relates. The individual strands 14 pass through conventional type stop motion units whereby the apparatus is stopped each time movement of either of the separate strands l4 ceases. Accordingly, the slub is removed from the individual strand 14 prior to twisting the separate strands into a multiple ply yarn.

Projecting laterally of the body member 10 in spaced relation to each upstanding flat surface 22 of the separate anvil members 19 is a support bracket 36. Secured to each bracket 36 by a retainer element 37 is a resilient yarn retainer member 38 having a lower end portion 39 which extends generally parallel to the adjacent flat surface 22, as shown in FIG. 2. Each yarn retainer member 38 is shown as comprising a leaf-like spring member which is anchored at its uppermost end by the retainer element 36 with the other end thereof extending downwardly and inwardly toward the adjacent side 22 of the adjacent anvil l9 and defining an included acute angle therewith, as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the adjacent rounded portion 23 and the lowermost end of the retainer member 38 define a generally V- shaped structure which facilitates feeding the strand l4 downwardly between the anvil l9 and the lowermost end 39 of the yarn retainer member 38. With this structure, the separate strands 14 are free to move downwardly but do not move upwardly relative to the yarn retainer member 38 upon severing the strand 14 by the cutter blade 28. Accordingly, the severed end of the strand 14 carrying the slub 32 is always in easy reach of the operator for removal of the slub and tying the ends together in the usual manner.

In view of the foregoing description, the operation of our improved apparatus will be readily understood. The individual strands 14 of yarn are delivered from separate bobbins in the usual manner to the separate yarn guide 16 whereupon the strands 14 then pass downwardly alongside the upstanding flat surfaces 22 of the anvil members 19. So long as there are no slubs in the individual strands 14, the strands move continuously between the cutter elements 28 and the adjacent surfaces 22. However, upon movement of a slub 32 into engagement with the cutter blade 28, the knife member 27 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, whereupon the cutter blade moves to a first position adjacent the flat surface 22 of an adjacent anvil 19. As the cutter blade 28 moves toward the flat surface 22, the strand 14 adjacent thereto is severed whereupon the apparatus is then stopped by a conventional type stop motion unit, now shown. Upon removing the slub 32 and then tying the ends of the strand 14, the apparatus is placed back in operation. Upon release of the cutter element 28, the counterweight 29 urges the knife member 27 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, whereby the cutter blade 28 is spaced from the anvil member 19 a distance to permit free movement of the individual strands l4 therebetween so long as no slubs are present.

The downwardly and inwardly extending yarn retainer member 38 permits free movement of the strands 14 in a downward direction but prevents upward movement of the strands upon severing a strand by a cutter element 28, as described hereinabove.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised an improved apparatus for sensing slubs carried by individual moving strands of yarn passing from separate supply bobbins to twisting apparatus for forming multiple ply yarn. By catching the slubs and removing the same prior to twisting the individual strands into a multiple ply yarn, we eliminate the necessity of having to cut all three separate strands and then tie the three ends together. This reduces the size of the knot approximately one-third where three separate strands are twisted into a multiple ply yarn. Also, by providing individual slub catchers adjacent each of the separate strands 14 which are not only mechanical in operation but gravity actuated, our improved apparatus requires a minimum of maintenance for continuous, troublefree operation.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

1. ln apparatus for sensing slubs carried by individual moving strands of yarn for forming multiple ply yarn from said individual strands,

a. an upstanding anvil member having one side thereof adjacent each said individual moving strand of yarn a knife member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends adjacent said one side of each said anvil member and carrying a cutter blade adapted for movement with said knife member selectively to a first position with said blade adjacent said anvil and to a second position with said blade spaced from said anvil for passing an individual strand of yarn therebetween,

. said cutter blade being positioned relative to said one side of said anvil to be engaged by a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand of yarn and moved from said second position to said first position to sever said adjacent strand of yarn,

d. means urging said knife member and the cutter blade carried thereby toward said second position so that said cutter blade remains in said second position until it is engaged by a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand of yarn, and

e. a yarn retainer comprising a-leaf-like spring member anchored at one end adjacent said one side of said anvil member in advance of said cutter blade relative to the direction of movement of an adjacent strand of yarn with the other end thereof extending inwardly and urged toward said one side of said anvil member and defining an included acute angle therewith.

2. Apparatus for sensing slubs as defined in claim 1 in which said other end of said spring member terminates in a free end portion extending parallel to said one side of said anvil member, whereby an adjacent strand of yarn passes between and extends parallel to said free end and said one side of said anvil member.

0 t t i 1 

1. In apparatus for sensing slubs carried by individual moving strands of yarn for forming multiple ply yarn from said individual strands, a. an upStanding anvil member having one side thereof adjacent each said individual moving strand of yarn b. a knife member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends adjacent said one side of each said anvil member and carrying a cutter blade adapted for movement with said knife member selectively to a first position with said blade adjacent said anvil and to a second position with said blade spaced from said anvil for passing an individual strand of yarn therebetween, c. said cutter blade being positioned relative to said one side of said anvil to be engaged by a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand of yarn and moved from said second position to said first position to sever said adjacent strand of yarn, d. means urging said knife member and the cutter blade carried thereby toward said second position so that said cutter blade remains in said second position until it is engaged by a slub carried by an adjacent moving strand of yarn, and e. a yarn retainer comprising a leaf-like spring member anchored at one end adjacent said one side of said anvil member in advance of said cutter blade relative to the direction of movement of an adjacent strand of yarn with the other end thereof extending inwardly and urged toward said one side of said anvil member and defining an included acute angle therewith.
 2. Apparatus for sensing slubs as defined in claim 1 in which said other end of said spring member terminates in a free end portion extending parallel to said one side of said anvil member, whereby an adjacent strand of yarn passes between and extends parallel to said free end and said one side of said anvil member. 